Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Philip Haldane and his sister lived in a little red-roofed house in a little red-roofed town.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Philip Haldane and his sister lived in a little red-roofed house in a little red-roofed town.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

an upper floor projecting from the rear over the main floor in an auditorium

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

for the reason that

From this reading And he had never envied other boys their mothers, because Helen was so kind and clever and dear.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading And he had never envied other boys their mothers, because Helen was so kind and clever and dear.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Philip had no one but his sister, and she had no one but Philip.

an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading And he had never envied other boys their mothers, because Helen was so kind and clever and dear.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

dearly loved

From this reading And he had never envied other boys their mothers, because Helen was so kind and clever and dear.

cause to move by pulling

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

inflected form of “envy” — feel envious towards; admire enviously

From this reading And he had never envied other boys their mothers, because Helen was so kind and clever and dear.

at any time

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

Scottish geneticist (son of John Haldane) who contributed to the development of population genetics; a popularizer of science and a Marxist (1892-1964)

From this reading Philip Haldane and his sister lived in a little red-roofed house in a little red-roofed town.

a sister who has only one parent in common with you

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Philip Haldane and his sister lived in a little red-roofed house in a little red-roofed town.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Philip Haldane and his sister lived in a little red-roofed house in a little red-roofed town.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Philip Haldane and his sister lived in a little red-roofed house in a little red-roofed town.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading And he had never envied other boys their mothers, because Helen was so kind and clever and dear.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Philip Haldane and his sister lived in a little red-roofed house in a little red-roofed town.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Philip Haldane and his sister lived in a little red-roofed house in a little red-roofed town.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading And he had never envied other boys their mothers, because Helen was so kind and clever and dear.

clean or organized

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading And he had never envied other boys their mothers, because Helen was so kind and clever and dear.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

not any; not one

From this reading Philip had no one but his sister, and she had no one but Philip.

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Philip had no one but his sister, and she had no one but Philip.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading And he had never envied other boys their mothers, because Helen was so kind and clever and dear.

plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)

From this reading Philip Haldane and his sister lived in a little red-roofed house in a little red-roofed town.

to hold fast or prevent from moving

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

a range horse of the western United States

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Philip Haldane and his sister lived in a little red-roofed house in a little red-roofed town.

a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Philip had no one but his sister, and she had no one but Philip.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading Philip Haldane and his sister lived in a little red-roofed house in a little red-roofed town.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading And he had never envied other boys their mothers, because Helen was so kind and clever and dear.

resistant to change of position or condition

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Philip Haldane and his sister lived in a little red-roofed house in a little red-roofed town.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

which person or people

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.

in the company of; together with

From this reading They had a little garden and a little balcony, and a little stable with a little pony in it--and a little cart for the pony to draw; a little canary hung in a little cage in the little bow-window, and the neat little servant kept everything as bright and clean as a little new pin.

a late time of life

From this reading Their parents were dead, and Helen, who was twenty years older than Philip and was really his half-sister, was all the mother he had ever known.